Rack and gear actuated screw cap remover



Jan. 17, 1950 J, HAUCK 2,495,004

RACK AND GEAR ACTUATED SCREW CAP REMOVER Filed Jan. 25, 1946 2Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I. FIG. 2.

I 46 :u --l I I: I :i I :l l 22 l' I I II I I I I H I I l FIG. 4.

INVENTOR.

HENRY J. HAUCK BY yi fa.

ATTCI RN EYS Jan. 17, 1950 H. J. HAUCK 2,495,004

RACK AND GEAR ACTUATED SCREW CAP REMOVER Filed Jan. 25, 1946 2Sheets$heet 2 FIG. 6.

IO 34 I4 22 FIG. 7.

INVENTOR. HENRY J. HAUCK ATTDIRNEYS Patented Jan. 1 7, i950 BACK ANDGEAR ACTUATED SCREW CAP REMOVER Henry J. Hauck, Schenectady, N. Y.

Application January 25, 1946, Serial No. 643,309

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to improvements in can openers and has for one ofits objects the provision of a tool which may be used universally for anumber of purposes that arise in the kitchen or on a picnic.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tool that is simple inconstruction, efficient in operation and can be inexpensivelymanufactured and retailed at a low cost.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view the inventionconsists of the novel details of construction, arrangement andcombination of parts more fully hereinafter described, claimed andillustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a rear view thereof.

Figure 3 is a side view.

Figure 4 is a side view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2 with the toolapplied to a can for the cutting thereof, the can being shown insection.

Figure 5 is a view showing the use of the device in prying a jar lidfrom the jar.

Figure 6 is a view showing the use of the device in removing a screw capfrom the bottle and Figure 7 shows the device in operation to punchholes in a can.

Referring more in detail to the drawings the numeral Ii) designates arectangular shaped plate member having a longitudinal slot I2 thereinforming parallel relatively spaced bars I4. One end of the member l0terminates in the relatively sharp punching point 16 while the other endterminates in the hooked guide member l8. Pressed outwardly of themember [0, adjacent the end formed with the hooked members [8 andpositioned in the slot I2 are the relatively spaced jaws 20 which aresharpened at their outer ends as shown.

Slidably mounted on the member I0 is the sleeve member 22 which islongitudinally split at 24.

Mounted transversely of the member 22 is the key 26 having therectangular shaped shaft 28 on which is mounted a toothed disc 30 a gear32 which is adapted to mesh with the rack 34 formed on the inner side ofone of the bars l4 and a washer 36. The disc 30 and washer 36 aremounted exteriorly of the sleeve 22 and the end of the shaft 28 isburred to retain these elements as a unit.

Secured to the sleeve 22 adjacent the disc 30 by means of a rivet 38 isthe guide member 40 and the pivoted cutter member 42.

The guide member 40 is provided with the upstanding stop member 44 whichlimits the movement of the pivoted cutter 42 and the outwardly inclinedhooked member 46.

The member [8 has the punching point d8 intermediate the hooked end andthe jaws 2B.

This device can be used for a various number of purposes in Figure 5,the device is shown in use in lifting a lid from a jar, Figure 6 as ascrew cap remover and Figure 7 for punching a hole in a can. Whenremoving a screw cap as shown in Figure 6 the grip upon the cap isabsolutely positive, it cannot slip which is the greatest handicap ofdevices in use at the present time. This positive grip is accomplishedby placing rack 34 as shown with the disc 30 in contact with the cap andthe gear 32 in contact with the rack on the underiace of the member Ill,therefore during the action of unscrewing the cap the disc 30 is forcedagainst the cap thereby obtaining a more positive grip.

In Figure 4 the device is being used for cutting the top from a tin can.In addition to the uses illustrated the device can be used to pry openpressed in covers and is adjustable to fit caps and lids of varioussizes.

It is believed that the various uses to which the device may be adaptedand the method of operation thereof will be apparent to those skilled inthe art and it is to be understood that changes may be made in thedetails of construction, arrangement and combination of parts withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appendedclaim.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed, as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

In a tool of the character described, an elongated sleeve, asubstantially rectangular plate member slidably mounted in said sleeve,said plate member having a longitudinal slot therein, rack teeth formedon said plate member and facing said longitudinal slot, a shaftrotatably mounted in said sleeve, said shaft extending transverselythrough said longitudinal slot and said sleeve, a gear within saidsleeve secured to said shaft for rotation thereby and meshing with saidrack teeth, an operating key secured to one end of said shaft formanually turning the same, a toothed disc drivingly secured to the otherend of said shaft, and a jaw secured to said plate member and extendingtoward said toothed disc, whereby said jaw and toothed disc are adaptedto grip therebetween a cap for turning the same, the engagement betweenthe cap and said disc automatical iy increasing the grip of the same andsaid jaw on the cap as the cap turning force is applied.

HENRY J. HAUCK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Stork Dec. 8, 1903 Number1,261,045 1,771,493

